Regeneration of pillared clays with gas containing a small amount of ammonia

Abstract

The useful life of a deactivated inorganic pillared clay catalyst or an inorganic pillared clay sorbent saturated with a steam-distillable organic sorbate is extended by adding a small amount of ammonia to the regeneration gas or to the regeneration steam.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In the method for regenerating a deactivated inorganic acidic pillared clay catalyst that contains coke residue acquired during an acid catalyzed hydrocarbon reaction, said regeneration being effected by contacting said deactivated catalyst with an oxygen containing gas at elevated temperature under conditions effective to remove said coke residues, the improvement whereby forming regenerated catalyst with minimal loss of catalytic activity which comprises including in said regeneration gas from about 0.001 to 5.0 volume percent of gaseous ammonia and heating said regenerated catalyst in air or an inert gas under conditions effective to desorb ammonia. 
     
     
       2. The method described in claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon is a gas oil and said reaction is catalytic cracking.